Part 164

Chapter 1643,671 wordsPublic domain

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

6% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 101

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

12.66% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 66 12.65% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$60.13 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 116 $69.97 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$162.8 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 118 $168.7 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$208.5 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 123 $215.1 million (31 December 2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$NA

Agriculture - products:

coconuts, bananas, taro, yams, coffee, cocoa

Industries:

food processing, building materials, auto parts

Industrial production growth rate:

2.8% (2000) country comparison to the world: 90

Electricity - production:

109 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 189

Electricity - consumption:

101.4 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 190

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 121

Oil - consumption:

1,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 188

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 154

Oil - imports:

1,105 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 189

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 114

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 112

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 120

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 87

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 112

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 120

Current account balance:

-$24 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 67

Exports:

$131 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 187

Exports - commodities:

fish, coconut oil and cream, copra, taro, automotive parts, garments, beer

Exports - partners:

Australia 36.8%, American Samoa 35.3%, US 2.9% (2008)

Imports:

$324 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 191

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, industrial supplies, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

NZ 20.1%, Fiji 18.2%, Singapore 18.1%, China 8.7%, Australia 6.4% (2008)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$70.15 million (FY03/04) country comparison to the world: 150

Debt - external:

$177 million (2004) country comparison to the world: 182

Exchange rates:

tala (SAT) per US dollar - NA (2007), 2.7594 (2006), 2.7103 (2005), 2.7807 (2004), 2.9732 (2003)

Communications ::Samoa

Telephones - main lines in use:

28,800 (2008) country comparison to the world: 179

Telephones - mobile cellular:

124,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 180

Telephone system:

general assessment: adequate

domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 70 telephones per 100 persons; coverage extended to roughly 95 percent of the country

international: country code - 685; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 5, shortwave 0 (2004)

Television broadcast stations:

2 (2002)

Internet country code:

.ws

Internet hosts:

13,985 (2009) country comparison to the world: 112

Internet users:

9,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 200

Transportation ::Samoa

Airports:

4 (2009) country comparison to the world: 186

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

under 914 m: 1 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 2

under 914 m: 2 (2009)

Roadways:

total: 2,337 km country comparison to the world: 170 paved: 332 km

unpaved: 2,005 km (2001)

Merchant marine:

total: 1 country comparison to the world: 154 by type: cargo 1

foreign-owned: 1 (Cyprus 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Apia

Military ::Samoa

Military branches:

no regular military forces; Samoa Police Force (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 53,417 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 43,169

females age 16-49: 40,957 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 2,597

female: 2,477 (2009 est.)

Military expenditures:

Military - note:

Samoa has no formal defense structure or regular armed forces; informal defense ties exist with NZ, which is required to consider any Samoan request for assistance under the 1962 Treaty of Friendship

Transnational Issues ::Samoa

Disputes - international:

none

page last updated on November 11, 2009

======================================================================

@San Marino (Europe)

Introduction ::San Marino

Background:

The third smallest state in Europe (after the Holy See and Monaco), San Marino also claims to be the world's oldest republic. According to tradition, it was founded by a Christian stonemason named Marinus in A.D. 301. San Marino's foreign policy is aligned with that of Italy; social and political trends in the republic also track closely with those of its larger neighbor.

Geography ::San Marino

Location:

Southern Europe, an enclave in central Italy

Geographic coordinates:

43 46 N, 12 25 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 61 sq km country comparison to the world: 228 land: 61 sq km

water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

about one third times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

total: 39 km

border countries: Italy 39 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

Mediterranean; mild to cool winters; warm, sunny summers

Terrain:

rugged mountains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Torrente Ausa 55 m

highest point: Monte Titano 755 m

Natural resources:

building stone

Land use:

arable land: 16.67%

permanent crops: 0%

other: 83.33% (2005)

Irrigated land:

Natural hazards:

Environment - current issues:

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution

Geography - note:

landlocked; smallest independent state in Europe after the Holy See and Monaco; dominated by the Apennines

People ::San Marino

Population:

30,324 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 212

Age structure:

0-14 years: 16.8% (male 2,636/female 2,451)

15-64 years: 65.8% (male 9,539/female 10,428)

65 years and over: 17.4% (male 2,273/female 2,997) (2009 est.)

Median age:

total: 41.5 years

male: 41.1 years

female: 41.9 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.148% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 115

Birth rate:

9.63 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 201

Death rate:

8.48 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 94

Net migration rate:

10.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 7

Urbanization:

urban population: 94% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 0.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.09 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female

total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 5.34 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 186 male: 5.76 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 4.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 81.97 years country comparison to the world: 5 male: 78.53 years

female: 85.72 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.36 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 201

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

Nationality:

noun: Sammarinese (singular and plural)

adjective: Sammarinese

Ethnic groups:

Sammarinese, Italian

Religions:

Roman Catholic

Languages:

Italian

Literacy:

definition: age 10 and over can read and write

total population: 96%

male: 97%

female: 95%

Education expenditures:

Government ::San Marino

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of San Marino

conventional short form: San Marino

local long form: Repubblica di San Marino

local short form: San Marino

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: San Marino

geographic coordinates: 43 56 N, 12 25 E

time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:

9 municipalities (castelli, singular - castello); Acquaviva, Borgo Maggiore, Chiesanuova, Domagnano, Faetano, Fiorentino, Montegiardino, San Marino Citta, Serravalle

Independence:

3 September 301

National holiday:

Founding of the Republic, 3 September (AD 301)

Constitution:

8 October 1600; electoral law of 1926 serves some of the functions of a constitution

Legal system:

based on civil law system with Italian law influences; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Co-chiefs of State Captain Regent Francesco MUSSONI and Captain Regent Stefano PALMIERI (for the period 1 October 2009-31 March 2010)

head of government: Secretary of State for Foreign and Political Affairs Antonella MULARONI (since 3 December 2008)

cabinet: Congress of State elected by the Great and General Council for a five-year term

elections: co-chiefs of state (captains regent) elected by the Great and General Council for a six-month term; election last held in September 2009 (next to be held in March 2010); secretary of state for foreign and political affairs elected by the Great and General Council for a five-year term; election last held 9 November 2008 (next to be held by 2013)

election results: Francesco MUSSONI and Stefano PALMIERI elected captains regent; percent of legislative vote - NA; Antonella MULARONI elected secretary of state for foreign and political affairs; percent of legislative vote - NA

note: the popularly elected parliament (Grand and General Council) selects two of its members to serve as the Captains Regent (co-chiefs of state) for a six-month period; they preside over meetings of the Grand and General Council and its cabinet (Congress of State), which has 10 other members, all selected by the Grand and General Council; assisting the captains regent are 10 secretaries of state; the secretary of state for Foreign Affairs has assumed some prime ministerial roles

Legislative branch:

unicameral Grand and General Council or Consiglio Grande e Generale (60 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections: last held 9 November 2008 (next to be held by June 2013)

election results: percent of vote by party - Pact for San Marino coalition 54.2%: PDCS 31.9%, AP 11.5%, Freedom List 6.3%, San Marino Union of Moderates 4.2%; Reforms and Freedom coalition 45.8%: Party of Socialists and Democrats 32%, United Left 8.6%, Democrats of the Center 4.9%; seats by party - Pact for San Marino coalition 35: PDCS 22, AP 7, the Freedom List 4, San Marino Union of Moderates 2; Reforms and Freedom coalition 25: Party of Socialists and Democrats 18, United Left 5, Democrats of the Center 2

Judicial branch:

Council of Twelve or Consiglio dei XII

Political parties and leaders:

Christian Democrats or PDCS [Pasquale VALENTINI]; Communist Refoundation or RC [Ivan FOSHI]; Democrats of the Center or DdC [Giovanni LONGERNINI]; Freedom List (including NPS and We Sammarinesi or NS [Gabriele GATTEI]; New Socialist Party or NPS [Augusto CASALI]; Party of Socialists and Democrats or PDS [Paride ANDREOLI]; Popular Alliance or AP [Carlo FRANCIOSI]; Union of Moderates (including National Alliance or ANS [Glcuco SANSOVINI] and San Marino Populars or pop [Romeo MORRI and Angela VENTURINI]; United Left of SU [Alessandro ROSSI]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

International organization participation:

CE, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ITU, ITUC, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Paolo RONDELLI

chancery: 888 27th Street NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20006

telephone: 202-337-2260

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in San Marino; the ambassador to Italy is accredited to San Marino

Flag description:

two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and light blue with the national coat of arms superimposed in the center; the coat of arms has a shield (featuring three towers on three peaks) flanked by a wreath, below a crown and above a scroll bearing the word LIBERTAS (Liberty)

Economy ::San Marino

Economy - overview:

San Marino's economy relies heavily on its tourism and banking industries, as well as from the manufacture and export of ceramics, clothing, fabrics, furniture, paints, spirits, tiles, and wine. The economy also benefits from foreign investment due to its relatively low corporate taxes and low taxes on interest earnings. The San Marino government, sworn in on 3 December 2008, will continue to work towards an economic cooperation agreement with Italy - a longstanding priority - as well as harmonizing its fiscal laws with EU members. The per capita level of output and standard of living are comparable to those of the most prosperous regions of Italy, which supplies much of its food.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.662 billion (2007) country comparison to the world: 188 $850 million (2004 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$1.048 billion (2004)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.3% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 101

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$41,900 (2007) country comparison to the world: 19

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 0.1%

industry: 46.5%

services: 53.4% (2007)

Labor force:

22,660 (2008) country comparison to the world: 201

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 0.1%

industry: 37.7%

services: 62.2% (2008 est.)

Unemployment rate:

3.1% (2008) country comparison to the world: 35

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $690.6 million

expenditures: $652.9 million (2006)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

-3.5% (2008) country comparison to the world: 1 -1.5% (2006)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

NA% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 113 7.58% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$NA (31 December 2008)

$1.326 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$NA (31 December 2008)

$4.584 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$NA (31 December 2008)

$7.511 billion (31 December 2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$NA

Agriculture - products:

wheat, grapes, corn, olives; cattle, pigs, horses, beef, cheese, hides

Industries:

tourism, banking, textiles, electronics, ceramics, cement, wine

Industrial production growth rate:

3.1% (2007) country comparison to the world: 78

Exports:

$4.628 billion (2007) country comparison to the world: 114 $1.291 billion (2004)

Exports - commodities:

building stone, lime, wood, chestnuts, wheat, wine, baked goods, hides, ceramics

Imports:

$3.744 billion (2007) country comparison to the world: 130 $2.035 billion (2004)

Imports - commodities:

wide variety of consumer manufactures, food

Debt - external:

$NA

Exchange rates:

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6734 (2008 est.), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)

Communications ::San Marino

Telephones - main lines in use:

21,300 (2008) country comparison to the world: 193

Telephones - mobile cellular:

17,700 (2008) country comparison to the world: 208

Telephone system:

general assessment: adequate connections

domestic: automatic telephone system completely integrated into Italian system; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity 130 telephones per 100 persons

international: country code - 378; connected to Italian international network (2008)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 0, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2008)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (San Marino residents also receive broadcasts from Italy) (1997)

Internet country code:

.sm

Internet hosts:

6,734 (2009) country comparison to the world: 132

Internet users:

17,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 193

Transportation ::San Marino

Roadways:

total: 292 km country comparison to the world: 202 paved: 292 km (2006)

Military ::San Marino

Military branches:

no regular military forces; Voluntary Military Force (Corpi Militari Voluntar) performs ceremonial duties and limited police support functions (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

16-55 for voluntary service in Voluntary Military Force (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 6,613 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 5,343

females age 16-49: 6,048 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 161

female: 160 (2009 est.)

Military expenditures:

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of Italy

Transnational Issues ::San Marino

Disputes - international:

none

page last updated on October 28, 2009

======================================================================

@Sao Tome and Principe (Africa)

Introduction ::Sao Tome and Principe

Background:

Discovered and claimed by Portugal in the late 15th century, the islands' sugar-based economy gave way to coffee and cocoa in the 19th century - all grown with plantation slave labor, a form of which lingered into the 20th century. While independence was achieved in 1975, democratic reforms were not instituted until the late 1980s. The country held its first free elections in 1991, but frequent internal wrangling between the various political party's precipitated repeated changes in leadership and two failed coup attempts in 1995 and 2003. The recent discovery of oil in the Gulf of Guinea promises to attract increased attention to the small island nation.

Geography ::Sao Tome and Principe

Location:

Western Africa, islands in the Gulf of Guinea, straddling the Equator, west of Gabon

Geographic coordinates:

1 00 N, 7 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 964 sq km country comparison to the world: 184 land: 964 sq km

water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

more than five times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

209 km

Maritime claims:

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines

territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May)

Terrain:

volcanic, mountainous

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

highest point: Pico de Sao Tome 2,024 m

Natural resources:

fish, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 8.33%

permanent crops: 48.96%

other: 42.71% (2005)

Irrigated land:

100 sq km (2003)

Natural hazards:

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; soil erosion and exhaustion

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

the smallest country in Africa; the two main islands form part of a chain of extinct volcanoes and both are mountainous

People ::Sao Tome and Principe

Population:

212,679 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 186

Age structure:

0-14 years: 46.9% (male 50,475/female 49,188)

15-64 years: 49.7% (male 51,325/female 54,289)

65 years and over: 3.5% (male 3,335/female 4,067) (2009 est.)

Median age:

total: 16.4 years

male: 15.9 years

female: 17 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate:

3.093% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 12

Birth rate:

38.54 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 22

Death rate:

5.8 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 169

Net migration rate:

-1.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 135

Urbanization:

urban population: 61% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female

total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 37.12 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 68 male: 38.84 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 35.35 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 68.32 years country comparison to the world: 149 male: 66.65 years

female: 70.04 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.33 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 20

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne disease: malaria

animal contact disease: rabies (2009)

Nationality:

noun: Sao Tomean(s)

adjective: Sao Tomean

Ethnic groups:

mestico, angolares (descendants of Angolan slaves), forros (descendants of freed slaves), servicais (contract laborers from Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Verde), tongas (children of servicais born on the islands), Europeans (primarily Portuguese)

Religions:

Catholic 70.3%, Evangelical 3.4%, New Apostolic 2%, Adventist 1.8%, other 3.1%, none 19.4% (2001 census)

Languages:

Portuguese (official)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 84.9%

male: 92.2%

female: 77.9% (2001 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 10 years

male: 10 years

female: 10 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

Government ::Sao Tome and Principe

Country name:

conventional long form: Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe

conventional short form: Sao Tome and Principe

local long form: Republica Democratica de Sao Tome e Principe

local short form: Sao Tome e Principe

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Sao Tome

geographic coordinates: 0 12 N, 6 39 E

time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

2 provinces; Principe, Sao Tome

note: Principe has had self government since 29 April 1995

Independence:

12 July 1975 (from Portugal)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 12 July (1975)

Constitution:

approved March 1990, effective 10 September 1990

Legal system:

based on Portuguese legal system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Fradique Bandiera Melo DE MENEZES (since 3 September 2001)

head of government: Prime Minister Joachim Rafael BRANCO (since 22 June 2008)

cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the proposal of the prime minister

elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 30 July 2006 (next to be held July 2011); prime minister chosen by the National Assembly and approved by the president

election results: Fradique DE MENEZES elected president; percent of vote - Fradique DE MENEZES 60%, Patrice TROVOADA 38.5%

Legislative branch: